John Deere’s signature green is one of the most recognisable colours in global agriculture, instantly associated with generations of farm machinery stretching back to the late 1800s. From early Deere & Mansur planters to iconic Model A tractors, the legendary 4020, and today’s powerful 9RX series, green has long defined the brand’s identity.
But not every John Deere machine followed that tradition.
A striking example is a meticulously restored 1951 John Deere M Industrial owned by North Carolina farmer Drew Gordon. Unlike its green counterparts, Gordon’s tractor is finished in bright orange—a colour choice that continues to surprise onlookers wherever it appears.
“People come up and say, ‘Shouldn’t that be green?’” notes broadcaster Max Armstrong. “But it turns out this tractor was originally painted orange for a highway department.”
Gordon purchased the vintage machine in Arenzville, Illinois, and its unusual colour has since become a major talking point. During a recent episode of Max’s Tractor Shed, Armstrong put the question to John Deere two-cylinder enthusiasts: were Deere tractors ever produced in colours other than green?
The answer, it seems, is yes—albeit in limited numbers.
According to Armstrong, non-standard colour schemes were often specified by municipal, state, and county authorities, including highway departments and public works commissions. These machines were built for industrial or government use, rather than traditional farming, and were painted to meet visibility or fleet requirements.
One particularly rare example surfaced at a special BigIron and Sullivan Auctioneers’ event during the 2025 Farm Progress Show: a yellow 1989 John Deere 8560 four-wheel-drive tractor. “Very few of these were ever made, and even fewer still exist today,” said Cody Holst, general manager at Sullivan Auctioneers.
Municipal contracts weren’t the only reason Deere experimented with colour. In the late 1960s, the company introduced its custom-coloured “patio series” lawn tractors. Mechanically identical to standard models, these units were offered in shades such as patio red, sunset orange, spruce blue, and April yellow. While the concept failed to gain traction at the time, these machines have since become sought-after collector’s items.
For Gordon, that rarity is part of the appeal. “He likes tractors that are a bit out of the ordinary,” Armstrong explains. “This one is a real conversation starter.”
The orange 1951 M Industrial serves as a reminder that while John Deere green may dominate the fields, the company’s history includes some unexpected—and colourful—departures from tradition.